Sunderland star ready for hectic start to Northern Ireland's Nations League campaign
Dan Ballard is back in the Northern Ireland squad as they face Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine over the next two weeks.
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is relishing the hectic schedule he is facing after linking up with the Northern Ireland squad for the first international break of the new season.
The Black Cats centre-back are facing four UEFA Nations League fixtures in the space of ten days as home and away clashes with Georgia sandwich meetings with Hungary and Ukraine. After featuring in each and every minute of Sunderland’s Premier League campaign and coming off the bench as Regis Le Bris’ men kicked off their Europa League campaign with a narrow home win against AZ Alkmaar, Ballard has admitted a busy start to the campaign with club and country can be ‘tough on the mind and body’.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s Nations League opener in Georgia, he told BBC Sport Northern Ireland: "The lads are now experienced enough, a lot of them play in the Championship and League One and there are a lot of games. I am lucky enough to be playing in Europe this year [with Sunderland], so we have to get used to it. I think these four games will be really good for us. The games are coming thick and fast and we just have to do everything we can to prepare. It is tough on the mind and on our bodies, but we love playing games and that is why we do it. I am sure we will be ready."
Ballard revealed has been enthused by the ‘hunger’ shown within the squad as he returns to the Northern Ireland ranks for the first time since November last year after missing their last four fixtures with a hamstring injury.
He said: "It is a great opportunity for some of the lads who haven't got as many minutes as there will defo be opportunities this camp. There are some new faces and young faces who we are really excited to see come through. Sometimes we forget how strong a squad we have and then you look at training and there are a lot of hungry players who want to be involved. We have a lot of work to do, but there is a lot of talent and hunger."
Your next Sunderland read: Alan Shearer 'loved' what Sunderland star did against Man City as transfer question posed